ARRADCOM/DARPA compact homopolar generator
Abstract
A study has been conducted to assess the state-of-the-art of the various technologies relevant to pulsed homopolar generator (HPG) designs. It has been concluded that the all-iron-rotating (A-I-R) concept of Marshall (1980), in which most of the magnetic circuit is rotated to maximize energy density, is the best HPG configuration for powering a military rail gun. Energy densities up to 30 MJ/cu m for a 533-kg machine producing a 73-MW, 1.5-MA pulse appear feasible with this concept. Construction of a prototype single-rotor 3.5-MJ A-I-R HPG using conventional copper-graphite rim brushes and commercially available bearings has been scheduled.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
- Pub Date:
- January 1982
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1982ITM....18..160G
- Keywords:
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- Electromagnetic Acceleration;
- Gun Launchers;
- Homopolar Generators;
- Magnetic Circuits;
- Pulse Generators;
- Railgun Accelerators;
- Technology Assessment;
- Brushes;
- Design Analysis;
- Electric Pulses;
- Feasibility Analysis;
- Power Supply Circuits;
- Prototypes;
- Weight Reduction;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering